Month: March 2014

It’s Opening Day, the beginning of a new season. Even Cubs fans have new hope on this first day of the season. Could this be the year the Cubs finally make it to the World Series? No, probably not.

Some folks are comparing Opening Day to Christmas Day, but I think Opening Day is more like New Year’s Day. Like the New Year, the season is shiny and new. Every team is at the same place in the standings (with the exception of those teams who have already played games). Anything is possible.

On Christmas Day, you get and give presents. On New Year’s Day, you make resolutions, like to lose weight, exercise more, etc. Here are some resolutions I would like the Cardinals to make for the new season:

1. The need for speed. Turning a single into a double, running out an infield hit, etc. will help get more men on base and as a result, score more runs.

2. More stolen bases. A stolen base puts a runner in scoring position, and a hit will bring them home.

3. Quit swinging for the fences. Yes, Matt Adams, I’m especially talking to you. Every hit is a good hit – just get on base. If the ball happens to land over the fence, that’s great, but you will be missing out on a chance to get on base if you strike out. Don’t be afraid to take a walk, either.

4. Pay attention on the base paths. Don’t get caught in a rundown. And don’t forget to watch the first and third base coaches. They will let you know when you should run and when you should stay on base.

5. Be patient at the plate. Don’t swing at the first pitch. Wait for your pitch before swinging. It’s not good to leave runners on base.

As I post this, the Cards-Reds game is still going on. Thanks to Carlos Martinez, the Cards are still leading 1-0. The home opener, as you know, is next Monday. I’ll be at the pep rally at Ballpark Village, so come by if you can and say hi. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

At long last, Ballpark Village opens tonight! It’s been exciting to watch it being built these last few months. Ballpark Village will be the place to hang out before and after the game. And since Ballpark Village will be open all year round, it will help the economy of downtown St. Louis. I can’t wait to see the Hall of Fame Museum. You will recall a blog post last summer about what I would like to see in the museum. They probably didn’t use any of my ideas. 😦 I will go there on Opening Day and take some photos to share. Here’s the scoop on the grand opening, as well as details on all the exciting Ballpark Village tenants:

ST. LOUIS, MO (March 27, 2014) – The St. Louis Cardinals and the Cordish Companies celebrated the formal grand opening of the $100 million first phase of Ballpark Village (#BallparkVillage) today with a dedication ceremony with civic officials followed by a private VIP Gala and a free public concert within FOX Sports Midwest Live! with national recording artist Third Eye Blind.

“Ballpark Village is a truly significant development for St. Louis, and the opening of Phase One today is another step in the continuing investment the Cardinals have made in downtown St. Louis,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “This adds to the aura of Busch Stadium and the great Cardinal teams – past, present and future.”

“Ballpark Village will be a regional entertainment destination, giving all of us another reason to come early and stay late in Downtown St. Louis,” said Mayor Francis G. Slay, City of St. Louis. “It links the exciting transformation underway at the Arch grounds to new venues for shopping, dining and fun for the whole family.”

The construction of Ballpark Village represents the next step in the Cardinals’ vision for downtown St. Louis that began with the opening of the $411 million privately-financed Busch Stadium in April 2006. Located on 10 acres just north of Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village is one of the first master-planned developments designed around a new MLB ballpark. The approximately 120,000 square foot multi-story first phase of the multi-phased project is visible beyond the center field wall and is designed to look like an extension of Busch Stadium. The project was carefully crafted to compliment the energy and excitement of the Cardinals’ game day experience, while also functioning as a year-round attraction by itself.

“We believe our fans will fall in love with Ballpark Village and all that is has to offer beyond even game days,” said Bill DeWitt Jr, Chairman and CEO of the St. Louis Cardinals. “We anticipate that Cardinals Nation and Ballpark Village will be where the best fans in baseball will come to play all year round.”

The first phase of Ballpark Village is anchored by Cardinals Nation, the Budweiser Brew House, FOX Sports Midwest Live!, PBR St. Louis – A Cowboy Bar, Howl at the Moon and Drunken Fish.

“This will be one of the premiere entertainment districts in the United States,” said David Cordish, CEO of the Cordish Companies. “We integrated the best elements of all our successful projects and took them to an even higher level with this project.”

Ballpark Village features five live performance stages, the largest retractable roof of its kind in the United States, one of the biggest indoor TV screens in the Midwest and an outdoor festival space that recreates the infield of the previous Busch Stadium in its exact historical location.

“We appreciate patience and unyielding support of our fans, as well as the commitment and support of so many others on the long journey toward making this remarkable vision a reality,” said Bill DeWitt III. “I’m excited for our fans to experience Ballpark Village.”

In addition to the construction of a 120,000 square foot state-of-the-art structure housing nine marque venues, the first phase of Ballpark Village includes the development of the site infrastructure for the future build out of the entire 10-acre site. The remaining pad-ready development sites will allow for future phases to be developed more quickly since the basic infrastructure is already in place. In future phases, the team hopes to add residential, office and retail, as well as more restaurants and entertainment venues to the mixed-use neighborhood.

Following is more information on how fans can discover and enjoy Ballpark Village.

Getting To Ballpark Village

Ballpark Village is conveniently located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, accessible by multiple interstates and mass transit. Valet and self-parking is available in the surface lot at Ballpark Village. Visitors to the district who would like to self-park may enter the parking lot off of 8th, Walnut or Broadway streets. Parking is free with validation at lunch on non-game days. Parking is $2 with validation for dinner on non-game days. Hourly parking is available and event rates will apply for all Busch Stadium events and Cardinals games. A valet option is available for guests who enter from Walnut. Additional parking options are also available in the Stadium East & Stadium West garages, as well as numerous other downtown garages and lots. MetroLink is a convenient alternative to driving. Visitors may take a train to the Stadium Station located across the street from Ballpark Village.

Cardinals Nation offers fans of all ages a one-of-kind, world championship caliber experience unlike any place else. The best fans in the game will come to play here all year round because the baseball season never ends at Cardinals Nation. Cardinals Nation is the ultimate Cardinals headquarters – THE place for fans to remember, celebrate and create unforgettable Cardinals moments and experience the tradition – -every day!

A 34,000 square foot venue on four levels, Cardinals Nation features a high-energy, state-of-the-art two-story restaurant and bar, an 8,000 square foot world-class Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, a Cardinals Authentics (#CardsAuthentics) retail store featuring game-used memorabilia, and a 334-seat roof top deck with spectacular game views and an all-inclusive experience unlike anything in baseball today.

Cardinals Nation Restaurant and Bar is a casual, family oriented restaurant serving traditional American favorites with a contemporary infusion of regionally grown, fresh ingredients and flavor combinations, all enjoyed in the midst of the rich history and tradition of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals Nation Restaurant and Bar sets a new standard for sport-inspired restaurants. Featuring a high-energy, memorabilia-infused space designed by the internationally acclaimed Jeffrey Beers International, this 500-seat restaurant on two floors has three separate patios, two kitchens, six full-service bars, and unparalleled sports-viewing courtesy of over 60 flat screen TVs.

The two-story restaurant space is filled with Cardinals history and memories. The first floor of the restaurant features a contemporary design illuminated by a custom ceiling fixture comprised of two corresponding 54-foot long curved aluminum light bars with 108 15-watt LED light bars designed to mimic the seams of a baseball. While the stitch lights will primarily glow a bright Cardinals red, they may be programmed to display any color to set the mood for special occasions. Additional design features include custom made ceiling fans comprised of actual baseball bats, a stairwell with engraved home plates in the wood, and baseball themed design features in the restrooms.

Bringing an old school vibe to contemporary dining experience, the sports-inspired menu and atmosphere customized for baseball fans and foodies is a grand slam. From local favorites to innovative creations, whatever comes out of the kitchen is guaranteed to satisfy any major league appetite. It’s everything you expect and more, with a couple of mouth-watering, jaw-dropping “curve balls.” Fans can make reservations at cardinals.com/cardinalsnation.

The Cardinals Authentics Shop (#CardsAuthentics)

Own Your Own Piece of Cardinals History

Open Daily: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; on game nights, the shop will remain open 1 hour post game

Fans will find that gearing up for baseball just got easier with the debut of a new 800 square foot Cardinals Authentics Shop located on the first floor of Cardinals Nation adjacent to the Cardinals Nation Restaurant and Bar. With the grand opening of Cardinals Nation Authentics, there are now two locations to shop for genuine Cardinals gear and own a piece of St. Louis history! Both Cardinals Authentics locations (inside Cardinals Nation and Busch Stadium in the Ford Plaza north of Gate 6) specialize in official, game-used, limited edition and autographed collectibles and memorabilia direct from the club. Both stores offer a great selection of current and vintage Cardinals apparel, as well as one-of-a-kind collectibles.

The Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum at Cardinals Nation

Our Home. Our History. Our Heroes.

Opening April 7th, the new Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum within Cardinals Nation will feature the largest team-held collection in baseball and second only to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in terms of size with over 16,000 memorabilia items and hundreds of thousands of archival photographs. With over 8,000 square feet on the second floor of Cardinals Nation, the Museum (#CardsMuseum) will celebrate the rich history of baseball in St. Louis and the legacy of one of baseball’s most storied franchises.

Located just outside the new Cardinals Museum on the second floor of Cardinals Nation, the Cardinals Hall of Fame (#CardsHOF) presented by Edward Jones, will always be accessible to fans at no cost when Cardinals Nation is open. Created to honor the players and personalities who have had the greatest impact on the franchise, the Cardinals Hall of Fame gives fans a new way to connect and learn about our team’s great heritage. Fans will vote on new inductees annually and interactive kiosks help you learn more about these Cardinal greats with photos, videos and statistics. Members of the Hall of Fame will be permanently enshrined in the Cardinals Hall of Fame Gallery presented by Edward Jones with plaques produced by Mathews International, the company that also produces the plaques for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The new Cardinals Hall of Fame will be dedicated on Monday, April 7th.

The AT&T Rooftop at Cardinals Nation

It’s Out of the Park!

When fans visit the AT&T Rooftop at Cardinals Nation, they will be blown away by the view. Featuring over 330 seats on two levels, the all-inclusive AT&T Rooftop ballgame experience features a delicious all-you-care-to-eat buffet and full service bar as well as complimentary admission to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum.

At the heart of Ballpark Village is the central gathering place known as FOX Sports Midwest Live!. FOX Sports Midwest Live! is a 20,000 square foot entertainment marketplace featuring a world class audio-video presentation.

Equipped with a massive 15.5 foot high, 29 foot wide LED screen, four 90-inch LED TVs, nine 50-inch LED TVs, FOX Sports Midwest Live! provides St. Louis sports fans with one of the best sports-viewing experiences in the country.

The space has a live performance stage, built in concert lighting and is encircled by a two foot tall, 152 foot long electronic ribbon board to ensure a completely immersive audio and video experience.

Also included under the one-of-a kind 100 foot long retractable glass roof is a 200-seat restaurant and a VIP seating area to enjoy the big game.

FOX Sports Midwest, the television home of the Cardinals, also has a new studio on the second level overlooking FOX Sports Midwest Live! FOX Sports Midwest expects to produce more than 200 shows per year at the new studio, which looks directly into Busch Stadium from behind the anchor desk. Meanwhile, visitors inside Ballpark Village are able to watch FOX Sports Midwest’s shows live as cameras inside and around the entertainment district can show the game day atmosphere on the broadcast. The Cardinals Live pre-game and post-game shows will air live from the studio for home and road games.

Within FOX Sports Midwest LIVE!, Village-goers will find Tengo Sed and Tengo Hambre. Tengo Sed is all Fiesta, No Siesta. This cool, eclectic and high energy hang-out within FOX Sports Midwest Live! features south of the border flavor including in-house specialty sauces, Tex-Mex favorites and disarmingly good margaritas. Tengo Sed provides a lively atmosphere with great views of the FOX Sports Midwest Live! concert stage. Tengo Hambre, a fast-serve counter brings unique style and approach to Tex-Mex dining in the FOX Sports Midwest Live!. Tengo Hambre serves its famous street tacos and margaritas.

The Budweiser Brew House is a three-level, 26,000-square-foot venue that offers an unparalleled beer and dining experience for baseball fans and visitors in St. Louis. The destination includes an outdoor beer garden, an interior inspired by Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser’s rich heritage and commitment to quality, and a rooftop deck that puts St. Louis Cardinals fans within reach of baseball heaven.

From wings and lobster tacos to St. Louis-style ribs, fresh salads and more, each Budweiser Brew House menu item was created by a chef with a specific beer pairing in mind. Add a suggested beer to your entrée or select one of your favorites for a unique dining experience.

The Budweiser Brew House offers 239 beer taps, from Budweiser—proudly brewed in St. Louis since 1876—to new and exciting beers you’ve yet to try. A unique, self-serve 21-foot tap wall featuring a variety of brews allows guests to pour and explore new beers or old favorites. With the help of an in-house beer ambassador, adults 21 and older can purchase a Budweiser Brew House card in the dollar amount of their choice, swipe the card at the tap wall, and watch as their chosen tap dispenses a perfectly chilled beer.

The rooftop deck includes an incredible view of St. Louis Cardinals games in a fun, outdoor atmosphere. The Budweiser Brew House also includes a stage so guests can sit back with some of the world’s finest beers while enjoying live music in an intimate and inviting atmosphere. Game-day tickets for the rooftop deck are available through the St. Louis Cardinals.

PBR St. Louis – A Cowboy Bar brings an authentic world-class country experience to Ballpark Village. Each location of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) features its own unique high-quality design, but with shared attractions including a large dance floor, a soft-seating lounge area, private outdoor balconies, multiple bars and the world’s meanest mechanical bull as a showpiece element to the club. PBR St. Louis offers an expansive beer and bourbon list.

A live music joint, The Barn resides inside PBR St. Louis and continues the great live music tradition PBR venues have become known for around the United States. It features the best local, regional and national entertainment on a nightly basis. The intimate setting features a stage in front of the grand stone fireplace, state-of-the-art sound and cathedral ceilings exemplifying a chic but rustic barn feel. The Barn shares a 70 foot island bar with PBR and includes floor to ceiling windows with Arch and city skyline views.

Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Bar is ready to rock Ballpark Village! Howl at the Moon is home to a high-energy music experience that’s been a nightlife staple in cities across the country from Chicago to Boston as well as on the high seas with Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Howl at the Moon’s unique show is centered around party anthems and dance hits performed on everything from guitars, drums, and more to create a non-stop party atmosphere. Howl’s entertainers take the stage 2 to 5 at a time and play every night. The 5,000 square foot venue features modern saloon style decor, high top tables and a center bar with TVs and eight Draft taps. The bar highlights Howl at the Moon’s signature 86 ounce buckets of booze as well as some of St. Louis’ best local craft beers. The stage area features a modern light display and dedicated dance floor to go with the up-tempo show. Howl at the Moon will be open during all Cardinal’s Home Games regardless of hours listed above .Howl at the Moon is also available for private events 7 days a week. Contact Kristin Zupancic at kristin.zupancic@howlatthemoon.com or 314-736-4695.

Locally owned by Munsok So, Drunken Fish is widely recognized as the premier sushi restaurant in the Midwest region. Unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, the selection of sensational sushi and exquisite Japanese cuisine satisfies every appetite, while the extensive drink menu boasts an eclectic list of signature martinis and exotic drinks. With vibrant modern décor, a private dining room and Ballpark Village’s only glowing LED tables, Drunken Fish creates a plush and comfortable setting to grab dinner and drinks with your significant other or a group of friends. Large front doors create open air seating for the interior dining room while leading to a lavish outdoor patio and lounge. With displays of endless large screen TVs and live entertainment on game days and weekends, Drunken Fish is the perfect place to see and be seen. Drunken Fish has 32 signature cocktails and martinis, 14 flavorful signature rolls, 20 different kinds of fish and seafood, and over 10 items under $10 on our lunch menu.

Busch II Infield

Size: 14,000 square feet

Capacity: 2,600

Located outside the West entrance of Cardinals Nation, and in its exact historic home, is the Busch II infield – an outdoor park programmed with family-friendly events all year long. The turf-covered baseball diamond sits in the exact infield footprint left by Busch Stadium II (1966 – 2005). Featuring a 12 foot by 20 foot video display as part of the scoreboard, the infield provides fans a gathering place to watch the big game or enjoy an outdoor concert while eating Ted Drewes Frozen Custard at the Dugout Bar.

While standing on the infield, memories come to life through the aide of a larger-than-life mural on the west Ballpark Village wall. Pictured is a photograph taken during a pre-game ceremony in 2005 at one of the final games at old Busch. The image provides fans with the precise view they would have had from behind home plate.

The infield park is the site of can’t miss events and can’t forget memories all year long, as well as being one of two locations that visitors can purchase St. Louis’ favorite frozen custard, Ted Drewes (the other location is within FOX Sports Midwest Live!). Ted Drewes has been selling frozen custard and Christmas trees in the St. Louis region since he opened his first Gateway City location in 1930.

Coming Summer 2014

Jamba Juice, The Fudgery and Majestic Athletic will open locations this summer in Ballpark Village.

The Fudgery, widely known for its handmade, traditional fudge and its unique brand of singing fudge-makers, is now in its 35th year of business. It currently operates 27 stores in over a dozen states and is still headed by its original founder and CEO, AC Marshall. The Fudgery team members who stir, turn and fold the fudge are famous for belting out show tunes and creating an energetic and entertaining atmosphere. The Fudgery’s commitment to quality continues as the company grows into new markets and expands their selection, now also offering caramel apples and gourmet dessert sauce in addition to premium quality Blue Bell ice cream and milk shakes. The Fudgery will occupy approximately 1,500 square feet at Ballpark Village, adjacent to Jamba Juice.

Majestic Athletic is a subsidiary of VF Licensed Sports Group. Majestic designs, markets and manufactures athletic team uniforms, performance apparel, outerwear and licensed athletic wear. Majestic is the official on-field uniform of Major League Baseball and is also licensed by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL) and Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). Majestic will occupy approximately 750 square feet at Ballpark Village, adjacent to Drunken Fish.

Construction of Ballpark Village

Ballpark Village is the first construction project in the St. Louis area to use Sideplate Structural Connection for the structural steel. PARIC, Ballpark Village development team’s general contractor and a St. Louis-based company, used this innovative connection because it provided more flexibility in the layout of the building, leading to the vast open spaces, as well as helping to minimizing the amount of steel needed and the cost associated with that material. With the long term future of this project in mind, PARIC implemented a Geopier foundation system to which was an efficient way to improve the long-term stability of the foundations while minimizing the associated cost.

Because so much of this project is focused on the experience of the Cardinals fans, PARIC’s goal was to minimize the impact of the construction site on the game day experience. PARIC focused on the critical site work that needed to be completed prior to the season to minimize the impact on streets around Busch Stadium. At any given time PARIC coordinated as many as 250 workers representing 15 different trades. The St. Louis Cardinals engaged Clayco as the general contractor on the build-out of Cardinals Nation.

Construction By The Numbers

925 tons of steel

Highest point is 75’ (steel above the rooftop seating)

165,900 bricks

68 tons of cast stone

250 workers were on site at any one time, representing 15 skilled union construction trades

The construction of Ballpark Village, which began in February 2013, has been a welcome boost to our local economy. Over a thousand construction workers collaborated to build the first-phase of Ballpark Village, and close to a thousand permanent new jobs have been created with the new businesses operating within the district.

A priority commitment of the Ballpark Village development team has been to ensure an inclusive approach in all aspects of the construction and operation of the district. Ballpark Village developers have worked in partnership with the city, community leaders and others to ensure that the economic benefits of the project reach historically disadvantaged sectors of the community. The developers used a variety of proactive strategies to maximize minority participation and workforce diversity during the construction, as well as to achieve a diverse operational workforce reflective of the St. Louis region.

The first phase of the project is projected to achieve 21.62% MBE, 7.78%WBE contractor participation and 31% minority workforce utilization for the core and shell construction. In addition to meeting the M/WBE and workforce requirements set forth by the city in the development agreement, the development team felt it was important to go beyond what the city required by asking each tenant to work to achieve these goals with their construction. Each tenant has voluntarily worked to achieve the state’s M/WBE and workforce goals with interior construction, and the Ballpark Village team has worked with the city’s employment agency SLATE to establish a permanent recruitment and training office to maximize employment opportunities for city residents, particularly historically disadvantaged populations. The development team, along with each Ballpark Village tenant, has aggressively worked to recruit over a thousand employees to staff the first phase of Ballpark Village.

Ballpark Village Project Time Line

April 8, 2000 Cardinals announce intention to build a new ballpark

June 19, 2001 Cardinals sign a memorandum of understanding with city, county & state outlining plans for the construction of new ballpark and Ballpark Village downtown

January 17, 2004 New Ballpark Groundbreaking Ceremony

June 2, 2005 Cardinals announce selection of Cordish as developer for Ballpark Village

April 10, 2006 Opening Day in St. Louis – New Ballpark Grand Opening Ceremony

December 19, 2012 Cardinals, City & Cordish finalize Ballpark Village development agreement

February 8, 2013 Cardinals & Cordish break ground on first phase of Ballpark Village

The Cordish Companies

The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately-held, family ownership. During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Real Estate Development, Gaming & Lodging and Entertainment Management. One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. Prime examples are The Cordish Companies’ prominent role in the redevelopment of Baltimore’s world famous Inner Harbor; Philadelphia, PA; Atlantic City, NJ; Charleston, SC; Houston, TX; Louisville, KY and Kansas City, MO. In addition, The Cordish Companies has developed and operates multiple highly acclaimed entertainment destinations throughout the United States which welcome over 50 million visitors per year and are the most visited destinations in their respective regions. Over the generations, The Cordish Companies has remained true to the family’s core values of quality, entrepreneurial spirit, long-term personal relationships and integrity. As a testimony to the long-term vision of its family leadership, The Cordish Companies still owns and manages virtually every business it has created.

The St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals (cardinals.com) are one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball. Since they joined the National League in 1892, the Cardinals have won more than 9,500 games, 11 World Series Championships and 19 N.L. Pennants, 3 N.L. Eastern Division Titles, 8 N.L. Central Division Titles and 2 N.L. Wild Card Titles. Over 40 former Cardinals players and managers are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Cardinals’ first game of the season is less than one week away! I’m so excited! And the home opener is less than 2 weeks from today, which makes me even more excited! I’m hoping for an even better season this year than the last one, and I’m dreaming of a 12th World Series win […]

One of the features of Ballpark Village will be the Cardinals Hall of Fame, and starting Friday, you will have the opportunity to vote to select two members to join the Hall. The selected players are is in addition to the 22 inaugural members of the Cardinals Hall of Fame. All the nominees are worthy of selection – it sure will be hard to choose. Here’s all the details on the voting process:

Fans to select two players for August induction from ballot of Edmonds, Forsch, Hernandez, McGee, McGwire, Morris, Simmons and Torre

ST. LOUIS, MO (March 5, 2014) – Today Jim Edmonds, Bob Forsch, Keith Hernandez, Willie McGee, Mark McGwire, Matt Morris, Ted Simmons and Joe Torre were revealed as the eight players nominated for possible induction into the new St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. The eight modern ballot nominees, selected by a “Red Ribbon” committee of Cardinals baseball experts through a secret ballot process, will appear on the first-ever Cardinals Hall of Fame ballot online at cardinals.com/HOF presented by Edward Jones (#CardsHOF). Voting commences Friday, March 7th. The two players with the most fan votes after voting concludes on April 22nd will be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame this August.

“Induction into the Cardinals Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors the team can bestow,” said Bill DeWitt Jr., Chairman and CEO of the St. Louis Cardinals. “We think it is appropriate to have the best, most knowledgeable fans in the game of baseball choose the two Cardinals players who will be part of this first elected class.”

The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame was established as a way to recognize the exceptional careers and significant achievements of the greatest players in Cardinals history. To be eligible, players must have played for the Cardinals for at least three seasons and must be retired as a player from Major League Baseball for at least three years. The eligible pool of players is divided into two categories, ‘modern players’ and ‘veteran players.’ If a player retired more than 40 years prior to the induction year, he is classified as a veteran player.

In addition to nominating modern players for fan balloting, the “Red Ribbon” committee of Cardinals baseball experts also elected a veteran player for induction using a secret ballot process. Independent of this process, the Cardinals organization may also opt to induct an individual who was an important figure in Cardinals history such as a coach, broadcaster or member of the front office. The first elected induction class will be announced later this spring some period of time after fan balloting concludes. The formal enshrinement ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 16thduring the 2014 Cardinals Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.

Each member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame will be permanently enshrined in the new Cardinals Hall of Fame Gallery presented by Edward Jones that will be located on the second floor of Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village, just outside the entrance to the team’s new museum. The Hall of Fame Gallery is free and open to the public. The plaques that will adorn the gallery are being produced by Mathews International, the company that also produces the plaques for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

In January the Cardinals announced that an Inaugural Class, consisting of 22 Cardinals who are either enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame as Cardinals or whose number has been retired by the club, will automatically be part of the Hall of Fame upon the dedication of the museum and Hall of Fame on Opening Day in St. Louis on April 7th.

Following is a description of each nominee’s career as a Cardinal:

Jim Edmonds (#EdmondsHOF)

.285 AVG, 241 HR, 713 RBIs

Jim Edmonds joined the Cardinals in 2000 and played eight seasons, making the postseason in six of them and playing in two World Series, winning in 2006. The three-time All-Star won six consecutive Gold Gloves from 2000-05. He ranks 4th on the Cardinals all-time home run list with 241 and hit the game-ending home run in the 11th inning of the Game 6 of the 2004 NLCS.

Bob Forsch (#ForschHOF)

163-127, 3.67 ERA, 1079 K’s

Bob Forsch played 15 seasons with the Cardinals, making 401 starts, ranking 2nd all-time to franchise history. He threw two no-hitters, coming in 1978 and again in 1983, becoming the only pitcher in Cardinals history to throw two. He played in three World Series, winning in 1982, a year in which he threw a three-hit shutout in the Cardinals first ever NLCS game. The two-time Silver Slugger Award winner won 163 games for the Cardinals, ranking third in franchise history.

Keith Hernandez (#HernandezHOF)

.299 AVG, 265 2B, 662 R

Keith Hernandez played 10 seasons with the Cardinals, winning six straight Gold Gloves from 1978-1983. He was a co-MVP in 1979, batting a league leading .344 with 11 HR and 105 RBI. The two-time All-Star was a member of the 1982 World Championship team.

Willie McGee (#McGeeHOF)

.294 AVG, 301 SB, 255 2B

Willie McGee played in 13 seasons with the Cardinals, playing in 1661 games, 9th all-time in franchise history. He was a four-time All-Star, won three Gold Gloves and was the 1985 National League MVP with league leading marks of a .353 batting average, 18 triples and 216 hits, while stealing 56 bases. McGee played in three World Series, winning as a rookie in 1982 when he finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting. Is one of six players to steal over 300 bases with the Cardinals, swiping 301.

Mark McGwire (#McGwireHOF)

220 HR, 473 RBIs, 1.111 OPS

Mark McGwire finished his career playing five seasons with the Cardinals. In 1998, he broke the Major League Baseball single-season home run record of 61 set by Roger Maris with 70. He blasted 220 career home runs with the Cardinals ranking 6th in franchise history, leading the National League in 1998 and 1999, the top two season totals in Cardinals history. He set the Cardinals single season walk mark with 162 in 1998. Had back-to-back seasons of 147 RBI, ranking tied for 3rd in Cardinals history. He was a three-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger in 1998.

Matt Morris (#MorrisHOF)

101-62, 3.61 ERA, 986 K’s

Matt Morris pitched for the Cardinals from 1997-2005, finishing 3rd in the Rookie of the Year award in 1997 and was a two-time All-Star in 2001 and 2002. He played in five postseasons and one World Series, in 2004. He led the National League with 22 wins in 2001 and won 101 games over his career with the Cardinals.

Ted Simmons (#SimmonsHOF)

.298 AVG, 172 HR, 929 RBIs

Ted Simmons played 13 seasons with the Cardinals, making his Major League debut at 18-years old in 1968. He was a six-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger in 1980. In 1975, Simmons set the National League record for hits by a catcher with 188. He posted six seasons of 20 or more home runs and 10 consecutive seasons from 1971-80 with 75 or more RBI. His 172 HR rank 9th and 929 RBI are 7th all-time in Cardinals franchise history.

Joe Torre (#TorreHOF)

.308 AVG, 558 RBIs, 161 2B

Joe Torre played six seasons with the Cardinals at catcher, first base and third base from 1969-74. He was a four-time All-Star and was named National League MVP in 1971, leading the league with a .363 batting average with 137 RBI and 230 hits, while hitting 24 home runs. His 230 hits were the most since Stan Musial had 230 in 1948, the most by a Cardinal since World War II. He posted a career batting average of .308, ranking 10th in Cardinals franchise history.

The new 8,000 square foot state-of-the art St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum on the second floor of Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village will celebrate the rich history of baseball in St. Louis and the legacy of one of baseball’s most storied franchises. The Cardinals’ museum collection is the largest team-held collection in baseball and is second only to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in terms of size with over 16,000 memorabilia items and hundreds of thousands of archival photographs. Fans can learn more about the museum at cardinals.com/museum.

Cardinals Nation (#CardsNation)

The first phase of Ballpark Village will be anchored by a first-of-its-kind 34,000 square foot venue on four levels called Cardinals Nation. Cardinals Nation is comprised of four key elements: a two-story restaurant and bar, an 8,000 square foot world-class Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, a Cardinals Authentics retail store featuring game used memorabilia on the first floor, and a 330-seat roof top deck with spectacular game views and an all-inclusive experience unlike anything in baseball today. The Cardinals Nation restaurant will feature a high-energy, memorabilia-infused space designed by the internationally acclaimed Jeffrey Beers International. There will be three separate patios, two large bars, and unparalleled sports viewing with large flat screen TVs and other multimedia features. Cardinals Nation will set a new standard for sports-inspired restaurants. The Cardinals Nation rooftop seating deck will feature ticketed seats looking into Busch Stadium and will include amenities such as all-inclusive food and beverage, a complimentary ticket to the Cardinals museum, Busch Stadium audio/visual feeds, and access to other areas within Ballpark Village. Cardinals Nation will be the official headquarters for Cardinals fans who want to stay connected to the team year-round.

Ballpark Village (#BallparkVillage)

The construction of Ballpark Village represents the next step in the Cardinals’ vision for their investment in downtown St. Louis that began with the opening of the privately financed, $411 million Busch Stadium in 2006. Ballpark Village is a mixed-use retail, entertainment, office, and residential district being developed in partnership by the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cordish Companies. Spanning seven city blocks on the 10-acre site just north of Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village will be the first master-planned mixed-use development designed to complement the excitement and energy of the Major League Baseball game day experience to a new neighborhood outside the stadium walls. For more information about Ballpark Village, go to cardinals.com/ballparkvillage or stlballparkvillage.com.